Bitcoin’s Impressive Price History Since 2015
Bitcoin hit the $100,000 milestone, and if this is news to you, you’ve been living under a rock. Not so long ago, “Bitcoin” was a foreign word to most Americans. Now, it’s become part of mainstream vocabulary.
Many naysayers believe Bitcoin is too volatile to be a smart investment. Meanwhile, some pro-Bitcoiners argue the cryptocurrency’s volatility is what makes it the investment of a lifetime.
If you’re newer to Bitcoin and deciding whether to jump on the cryptocurrency bandwagon, only investing what you can stomach to watch drop by tens of percentage points is a must. That said, seeing how dramatically the price of Bitcoin has changed over the last ten years can help put those drops into perspective and visualize how powerful this digital currency has become.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and isn’t financial advice.
Analyzing Bitcoin’s Price History
Yahoo Finance analyzed Bitcoin’s price since 2015. The following numbers are based on each year’s highest high. For reference, we’ve included each year’s lowest low and the percentage gain or loss based on Bankrate’s data.
Bitcoin made its debut in 2009. Before 2015, Bitcoin’s price hit anywhere between $0 and a little over $1,000.
The popularity of Bitcoin gradually increased before 2015, with the first Bitcoin ATM installed in Vancouver in 2013. That same year, Bitcoin’s market cap rose above $1 billion for the first time. But how high—and low—has Bitcoin gone in a decade?
2015
- Bitcoin’s highest price: $495.56
- Bitcoin’s lowest price: $171.51
- Returns in one year: 35%
2016
- Bitcoin’s highest price: $979.40
- Bitcoin’s lowest price: $354.91
- Returns in one year: 124%
2017
- Bitcoin’s highest price: $20,089.00
- Bitcoin’s lowest price: $755.76
- Returns in one year: 1,338%
2018
- Bitcoin’s highest price: $17,712.40
- Bitcoin’s lowest price: $3,191.30
- Returns in one year: -73%
2019
- Bitcoin’s highest price: $13,796.49
- Bitcoin’s lowest price: $3,391.02
- Returns in one year: 94%
2020
- Bitcoin’s highest price: $29,244.88
- Bitcoin’s lowest price: $4,106.98
- Returns in one year: 302%
2021
- Bitcoin’s highest price: $68,789.63
- Bitcoin’s lowest price: $28,722.76
- Returns in one year: 60%
2022
- Bitcoin’s highest price: $48,086.84
- Bitcoin’s lowest price: $15,599.05
- Returns in one year: -64%
2023
- Bitcoin’s highest price: $44,705.52
- Bitcoin’s lowest price: $16,521.23
- Returns in one year: 156%
Bitcoin’s 2024 Record High
Bitcoin reached a record-breaking high of over $103,000 in December 2024. The price jump was largely connected to President Donald Trump’s reelection, who vowed to make more crypto-friendly regulations in the U.S.
Experts note that the outlook for Bitcoin is hard to determine. A small number of people own a large amount of Bitcoin available, roughly 92%. These owners are called “whales.”
The Origin of Cryptocurrency
The history of cryptocurrency started before the creation of Bitcoin, with eCash becoming the first digital currency back in 1990. Fast forward to 2008, and Bitcoin was created by an anonymous person or group of people known as Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008.
Bitcoin officially kicked off at the start of January 2009, when the first transactions were processed online. It was determined that the supply of Bitcoins would be limited to only 21 million coins, which means no additional coins can be created, making the cryptocurrency, in theory, more valuable.
Impact of Bitcoin Halving
On April 19, 2024, Bitcoin went through a halving event, which happens every four years. This cuts the reward for mining in half and reduces the rate at which new coins are created. The final halving event will occur in 2140 when the number of Bitcoins will reach the 21 million coin maximum.
Demand and inflation concerns are some reasons why halving Bitcoins is seen as a good move for investors. Because a halving event reduces new coin creation, the demand for Bitcoins tends to increase. After each halving event, the price of Bitcoin has typically risen.
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